Advantage Future Tech, serving as a global exclusive distributor of OEM turbine engine parts, avionics, satellite connectivity, and UAS/UAM product portfolios across all aftermarket segments, joins forces with B&H Worldwide to optimize their operations in the USA.

B&H Worldwide will manage AFT’s inventory within its Miami and Los Angeles facilities, forwarding shipments nationwide. With AS9120B certified facilities on both the east and west coasts, B&H will conduct quality checks on inbound and outbound shipments using their bespoke FirstTRAC WMS and tracking systems. The collaboration aims to ensure exceptional service standards for customers, with operations running around the clock to optimize AOG (Aircraft on Ground) response times.

Stuart Allen, Group CEO of B&H Worldwide, expresses optimism about the partnership, highlighting the potential synergies between two specialized organizations in the aerospace logistics field. He emphasizes the shared goal of delivering outstanding service to customers amidst Advantage Future Tech’s expansion in the Americas.

Boyd Ng, Senior Manager of Advantage Future Tech, lauds the partnership as a significant milestone for the company. He anticipates that combining their expertise with B&H’s capabilities will enhance operational efficiency and elevate the overall customer experience. Together, the companies aim to achieve new heights in the aerospace and aviation logistics industry.

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The research reveals that only 48% of organizations feel “very confident” in accurately reporting on Scope 3 emissions, a crucial aspect of environmental impact. A significant 62% admit that reporting on Scope 3 emissions is more of a “best-guess” measurement, highlighting the need for more precise and verifiable data.

While the Securities and Exchange Commission considers incorporating Scope 3 emissions in its final Climate Disclosure Rule, it is imperative for U.S. organizations to proactively manage and improve Scope 3 reporting. The study emphasizes the importance of moving beyond best guesses and adopting a more data-driven approach to support green claims over time.

Despite 88% of organizations expressing confidence in meeting net-zero targets, the study identifies gaps in comprehensive plans for various sustainability initiatives:

– Adopting renewable energy (78%).
– Reducing carbon emissions (68%).
– Embracing circular economy principles (72%).
– Decreasing air pollution (67%).
– Mitigating water pollution (63%).

Jarrod McAdoo, Director of Sustainable Procurement at Ivalua, underscores the urgency for organizations to address sustainability. He emphasizes that obtaining Scope 3 data is a crucial step in the maturation process of sustainability programs, even if they may currently rely on estimated data.

The study also highlights the importance of collaboration with suppliers in achieving net-zero goals. Over half (51%) of organizations believe that green initiatives not involving suppliers are ineffective. Challenges in supplier collaboration include resistance to emission reduction (27%), competing priorities such as cost and risk (24%), incomplete or unreliable sustainability data (22%), and poor visibility into sub-tier suppliers (18%).

To build trust and credibility in sustainability programs, the study suggests that organizations should focus on finding effective ways to measure and gauge the impact of Scope 3 emissions. While achieving absolute accuracy might be challenging without substantial investment, organizations are encouraged to equip procurement teams with good data and insights for meaningful progress.

In conclusion, the research underscores the need for a smarter approach to procurement, with granular visibility into supply chains and effective collaboration with suppliers. This transparency is crucial for showcasing meaningful sustainability progress and avoiding accusations of greenwashing in the long run.

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Translation: Americans want to spend during the holiday season. The businesses who can tap into this strong demand are much more likely to achieve their revenue goals and set the table for a strong start to the new year.

Since 99.9 percent of businesses in the United States are small businesses, this also illustrates how critical the holiday season is to the continued success and viability of the SMBs who power our communities. At Constant Contact, we wanted to better understand how small businesses tackle this time of year, so we polled 500 SMBs across a variety of industries to get their thoughts. We also asked 500 consumers about how their interest in shopping small changes before, during and after the holiday season.

Here are the stats and trends we uncovered, along with some additional findings from our Small Business Now report that help illustrate what small businesses can do to start 2024 on the right foot.

Small businesses depend on holiday sales to hit their annual goals.

• 75 percent of retail SMBs rely heavily on holiday sales to meet annual revenue goals.
• 58 percent of retail SMBs say holiday customers are “extremely important” to the overall success of their business.
• 50 percent of SMBs get at least one-quarter of their annual revenue from holiday shoppers, and that number jumps to 73 percent for retail SMBs.​

However, most shoppers don’t realize how vital their holiday spending is to small, local businesses.

• Supporting small businesses and their communities is the number one reason why Americans choose to visit or buy from an SMB. 
• However, only one-third (33 percent) of shoppers feel that visiting or purchasing during the holidays makes a significant impact on an SMB’s livelihood.

The holiday season is a great time to attract new customers, and fortunately, shoppers are open to being courted.

• The top goals for SMBs heading into the holiday season are finding new customers (63 percent), retaining current customers (52 percent), and planning for next year (45 percent).
• 84 percent of consumers planned to visit a “new to them” small business last holiday season.
• 87 percent of consumers say they are more likely to return to a small business in the future after visiting/buying during the holidays.
• Personalized emails and texts (52 percent), social media ads (42 percent), and sales or discounts (40 percent) are the most popular marketing tactics SMBs use to grow their customer base during the holiday season.

During the last three months of the year, small businesses see waves of new customers both in-person and online. These shoppers are highly engaged and looking for reasons to visit or buy. This makes the holiday season a terrific time for SMBs to capture people’s attention and grow their customer base.

Most small businesses do not have an effective marketing strategy to nurture, retain and convert their holiday customers in the new year, and it could be holding back their growth.

• 81 percent of consumers are more open to receiving marketing messages from a small business after visiting or buying from them during the holidays.
• 93 percent of SMBs feel that retaining new holiday customers into the following year is important – but just 18 percent feel their Q1 strategy is highly effective.
• 14 percent of SMBs have no post-holiday retention strategy at all.
• Less than half (49 percent) of shoppers receive an email after making a purchase, and 27 percent never hear from the business again.

Most SMBs are heavily focused on reaching new customers and growing their lists during the holiday season, but equally important is how those customers are nurtured once the calendar turns to January. The key to making the most of the holiday season is having a good customer retention strategy in place. 

So, what have we learned? The holiday season isn’t just a big deal for small businesses — it’s absolutely vital to their success. Every dollar, or sale, goes a long way and might make the difference between a good year and a bad one. Since shoppers are looking for excuses to visit and buy from SMBs during the holidays, it’s critical that those businesses market themselves and communicate their value. 

It’s also important to keep marketing once the holidays end. Americans showed similar interest in supporting small businesses in the new year as well, and many were turned off after never hearing from a business again after making a purchase. We see our customers dial up tactics like loyalty programs, events, and contests in an effort to activate their audience and turn holiday customers into repeat buyers in the following year.

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Usually, exporters of 600 series items may rely on the license exception found in the EAR at 15 C.F.R. 740.13 to train customers on exported items. This exception permits provision of “operation technology,” defined as the minimum technology necessary for the installation, operation, maintenance (checking), or repair of those commodities or software that are lawfully exported. When instruction implicates “defense services,” however, ITAR trumps the EAR exception and exporters must obtain a separate license from DDTC, even with a BIS license already in hand. 

ITAR requires DDTC authorization to provide defense services to non-U.S. persons. Although chiefly limited in scope to defense articles, the definition of “services” includes any military training of foreign units regardless of whether the training involves a defense article, whether the units are regular or irregular, and whether the training is formal or informal, remote or in person. 22 C.F.R. 120.32(a)(3). USML Category IX(e)(3) further confirms DDTC’s jurisdiction over licensing in these situations by including “Military training not directly related to defense articles or technical data enumerated in this subchapter.”

As with the EAR license exception for training, the USML contains a license exception permitting training on exported items—but that exception only authorizes training for defense articles. 22 C.F.R. 124.2. The dueling license exceptions in the EAR and USML therefore produce an unexpected gap: an exporter of a 600 series item to a foreign military must obtain separate licenses from BIS and DDTC for export and training, respectively. 

Exporters of 600 series items can take steps to ensure they do not become a cautionary tale. Exporters can conduct ECCN audits to confirm exported items are properly classified, review customer lists to ensure DDTC jurisdiction does not exist, and file voluntary self disclosures where necessary. Export control policies and procedures can be reviewed and tailored to the specific needs and demands of the company and specifically identify items or services that deserve greater attention and care. Most important, however, is documenting your compliance efforts to create a record of the company’s good-faith in complying with U.S. export control law. 

Author Bio

Thomas Slattery is a partner in Jones Walker’s Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on internal corporate investigations and compliance matters.

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Martichenko, who co-founded TrailPaths Inc. in 2022, a people development and technology company focused on creating Meaningful Employment Environments, has a deep understanding of logistics and workforce development. He spent 15 years as the founder and CEO of LeanCor Supply Chain Group, and his contributions to the industry have earned him recognition, including the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Distinguished Service Award.

Expressing humility in stepping into the role, Martichenko acknowledged the visionary leadership of Mark E. Richards and ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton. He looks forward to working alongside them to further ALAN’s impactful contributions to the disaster relief community.

Mark E. Richards praised Martichenko’s combination of compassion, creativity, and logistics experience, expressing confidence in his ability to lead ALAN into the future. Kathy Fulton emphasized the new energy and ideas that Martichenko would bring to the role, building on ALAN’s established reputation in the supply chain industry.

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In October 2023, after three months of decline, there was growth in supplies from abroad of festive or carnival articles, when their volume increased by 3.4% to 32K tons. Overall, imports recorded perceptible growth. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in May 2023 when imports increased by 108% against the previous month.

In value terms, festive articles imports fell markedly to $96M (IndexBox estimates) in October 2023. In general, imports, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in May 2023 when imports increased by 123% m-o-m.

Imports by Country

In October 2023, China (31K tons) was the main supplier of festive articles to the United States, with a approximately 96% share of total imports.

From October 2022 to October 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of volume from China stood at +2.3%.

In value terms, China ($87M) constituted the largest supplier of festive articles to the United States.

From October 2022 to October 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of value from China was relatively modest.

Import Prices by Country

In October 2023, the festive articles price stood at $3,030 per ton (CIF, US), reducing by -30.6% against the previous month. In general, the import price saw a pronounced reduction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in April 2023 an increase of 36% month-to-month. Over the period under review, average import prices attained the peak figure at $6,474 per ton in August 2023; however, from September 2023 to October 2023, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

As there is only one major supplying country, the average price level is determined by prices for China. From October 2022 to October 2023, the rate of growth in terms of prices for China amounted to -2.5% per month.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform 

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Signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act aims to fortify U.S. supply chains, generate high-paying jobs, safeguard national security, and enhance competitiveness. Microchip’s MCUs and mature-node semiconductors play a crucial role in various sectors, including electric vehicles, aerospace, and defense. The proposed investment, split between facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Gresham, Oregon, is expected to triple semiconductor output, reduce dependence on foreign foundries, and fortify supply chain resilience.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing semiconductor shortages that emerged during the pandemic, jeopardizing national security and contributing to economic challenges. The investment in Microchip aligns with President Biden’s goal to rebuild America’s semiconductor supply chain, ensuring a reliable domestic chip supply and fostering job creation across states.

White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard highlighted the significance of manufacturing investments in Oregon and Colorado to restore semiconductor production within the U.S. These investments contribute to the broader objective of reducing reliance on global supply chains, curbing price spikes, and eliminating delays in essential products.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio emphasized the collaboration between government and industry to strengthen the economy, enhance national security, and create high-quality jobs. Microchip President and CEO Ganesh Moorthy expressed the company’s commitment to reinforcing national and economic security, emphasizing the positive impact on the semiconductor supply chain and workforce development.

The announcement reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s proactive approach to addressing semiconductor challenges, aligning with broader initiatives to fortify domestic industries and create a more resilient and secure supply chain.

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Recipients of the $7 billion in grants will be energy infrastructure companies, hydrogen suppliers, industrial buyers, and state and local partners. Nearly all the US hydrogen currently produced comes from heating natural gas. This is a highly cost-effective process but the greenhouse gas emissions are considerable. Machines that can split water thereby resulting in green hydrogen are the preferred alternative as emissions are negligible and clean. This is an ideal future for most countries but the process is more costly than the status quo.

One region that is certain to benefit from the subsidy avalanche is Appalachia. West Virginia Pennsylvania, and Ohio are expected to form a regional hub to eventually connect into a larger national network. The “heartland hub” is another funding recipient comprised of North and South Dakota as well as Minnesota. California is its own hub as is Texas, and a hub for Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana make up the midwestern states. 

In terms of private actors, the chemical producer DuPont, a pipeline operator, Enbridge, hydrogen producers Plug Power, Air Liquide, and Air Products and Chemicals, coupled with Chevron and Exxon Mobil are slated to invest over $40 billion across the previously mentioned hubs. Industrial hydrogen buyers will receive an additional $1 billion in incentives to encourage purchases from the hubs.   

At the moment, inflation, the cost of energy, and raw materials are ever-present in conversations with investors. Solar, wind, and hydrogen projects were always a riskier gamble and the rising interest rate environment is only exacerbating the offer. An estimate by the World Platinum Investment Council pegs roughly $300 billion of subsidies currently available for hydrogen projects. This is up nearly 6-fold from just two years ago. Yet, permitting remains slow and is weighing on investors as they consider the alternatives.

Lastly, access to buyers as it relates to hydrogen delivery is a major concern. The wind corridor from North and South Dakota down to Texas is an advantageous region to produce hydrogen. But the buyers of hydrogen – chemical plants among others – are located along the coasts. Policymakers are operating in an unfriendly economic environment but without attractive delivery channels, subsidies alone will not be enough to advance a speedy rollout. 

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In October 2023, approximately 18K tons of snack food were imported into the United States; increasing by 6.9% on September 2023 figures. Overall, imports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in May 2023 when imports increased by 19% month-to-month.

In value terms, snack food imports rose to $85M (IndexBox estimates) in October 2023. The total import value increased at an average monthly rate of +1.5% over the period from October 2022 to October 2023; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being observed throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in May 2023 with an increase of 18% month-to-month.

Imports by Country

In October 2023, Mexico (10K tons) constituted the largest snack food supplier to the United States, with a 55% share of total imports. Moreover, snack food imports from Mexico exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Canada (4.4K tons), twofold. India (834 tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 4.5% share.

From October 2022 to October 2023, the average monthly growth rate of volume from Mexico was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: Canada (+1.7% per month) and India (+2.0% per month).

In value terms, Mexico ($41M), Canada ($26M) and India ($2.7M) constituted the largest snack food suppliers to the United States, together accounting for 82% of total imports.

Among the main suppliers, Canada, with a CAGR of +2.4%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports by Type

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of import of No country was relatively modest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the import volume of No country was relatively modest.

Import Prices by Country

In October 2023, the snack food price stood at $4,579 per ton (CIF, US), dropping by -2.7% against the previous month. Overall, the import price, however, recorded a modest increase. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in July 2023 an increase of 8.2% against the previous month. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $4,808 per ton. From August 2023 to October 2023, the average import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In October 2023, the country with the highest price was Canada ($5,935 per ton), while the price for the Philippines ($2,663 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From October 2022 to October 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Mexico (+1.3%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform  

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New York City – A Global Expedition:

New Yorkers, known for their diverse preferences, are jetting off to a mix of international and domestic destinations. The top 10 holiday travel spots include Santiago, San Salvador, Santo Domingo, Kingston, Lagos, Delhi, and Manila, alongside domestic escapes to Georgetown, Ft. Lauderdale, and Orlando.

Los Angeles – Embracing Global Vibes:

Angelenos are embracing an international flair with 6 out of their top 10 destinations located abroad. Guadalajara, San Salvador, Manila, Guatemala City, Mexico City, and Ho Chi Min City make the global cut, while domestic getaways include Atlanta, New York City, Dallas, and Houston.

Chicago – A Blend of Domestic and International Escapes:

Chicagoans are favoring domestic destinations for their holiday plans, with Phoenix, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas on their list. However, they’re also venturing internationally to Mexico City, Guatemala, San Juan, and Manila.

Houston – Exploring Diverse Horizons:

Houston residents are spreading their wings to international locales like San Salvador, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The domestic front sees trips to Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Ft. Lauderdale.

Phoenix – Domestic Delights with a Hint of International Flair:

In the Phoenix area, holiday-goers are opting for domestic travel, with cities like Dallas, Denver, New York City, Seattle, Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Portland topping the list. The lone international destination is Guadalajara.

As the anticipated air travel numbers for this holiday season surpass last year’s figures, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is gearing up to keep flights on schedule. Measures include opening military airspace for east coast north-south traffic, coordinating with commercial space companies to limit launches during peak travel times, and opening 169 additional east coast routes to accommodate increased air traffic.

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